20,000 weddings in Delhi on 11.11.11

New Delhi: Priests from other cities had to be called in and major traffic jams were reported as over 20,000 couples tied the knot Friday, 11.11.11, termed as extremely auspicious by many astrologers.

“Over 20,000 wedding took place in the city. 11.11.11 is equated with numbers 3, 6 and 9 which are good numbers to start with anything in Indian numerology,” said Ravindra Nagar, head priest of Birla Temple in central Delhi.

With so many weddings taking place, the priests in the city were joined by several from neighbouring states.

“Many people had already booked the priests in the city for performing the rituals as a result of which demand has preceded the supply. We have called pandits from Rishikesh, Kurukshetra Haridwar and other cities,” Nagar told IANS.

Apart from the weddings, many deliveries were also specifically planned on the day.
“More than 50 children were born in our hospital,” said a doctor from a private hospital.
Major traffic snarls were also reported at M.G road, G.T. road in north Delhi and various parts of the capital.

However, a certain section of astrologers rubbished the fuss associated with the day and called it a hype.

“The reports that this day is auspicious is ridiculous. The planetary movements are normal and there is nothing great about it. People want to get married and want their children to be born on this day as it would look attractive,” said Delhi-based astrologer Vivek Chopra.

“I don’t understand the fuss about the day. People have gone crazy on the piousness of this day whereas there is nothing like that,” said another astrologer.